Inker



April-21, 1931. J. v. PACHER INKER Filed July 50, 1930 Gttornegs.

Patented pr. 21, 19,31V

'JUNITED STATES PATENT '0I-Fica i .JOSEF v. PAGHER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AssIGNOK rro THF. TNTFitNAFIONAn POSTAL SUPPLY COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW Y YORK INKER Application filed .Tuly 30, .1930. Serial No. 471,788.

The present invention relates to iiilring rollers, and more particularly to vertical mkers such as are used in mail cancelling machines 'and similar printing mechanisms.

.l Uniform distribution of the ink as well as automatic delivery in accordance yvith the speed of the inker in machines of this type is highly desirable. It is an object of the invention to provide for delivery of inlr to the ink pad by centrifugal force, the ink being delivered proportionately to the speed of the inker. l Y

It is also an object of the invention to distribute the ink uniformly over the entire surface of the pad, the ink being directed along the inner surface of the pad in such a manner that it reaches all portions thereof.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description takenV in connection with the appended drawings in which Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of av preferred form of inker embodying the invention, a supply reservoir being shown in connection with the inker Fig. 2 is an elevation of the in'ker and pad, the latter being broken away to illustrate the grooves in the surface'of the inlier; and

Fig. 3 is a top view of the inker, the cap being broken away to show the distributing apertures in the core of the inker.

Referring to the drawings, the inker comprises a core 10 having an axial opening therethrough to accommodate a spindle 1 1 on which the inker is adapted to rotate. Spindle 11 is threaded into and supported on a fixed member 12 of the machine frame from Vwhich the core is spaced by `a washer 13 and to which is secured a bracket 14 for supporting an ink reservoir 15. The reservoir is provided with an adjusting screw 16 for regulating the discharge of ink therefrom. A supply pipe 17 is positioned over vthecore and directs ink from the vreservoir into a channel 18 in the upper face of core 10. The channel ly so that if the inker is rotatedat suficieiit Speed, the ink in channel 18 will rise along the sides 2lv towardthe upper aiidouter edge ofV the core. Overlying the top of the coreis a also providedon its under face with. a groove 24 so disposed with respect to the s ides Vof channel 18 that it forms a continuation thereof. Groove 24 is U-shaped in ,cross section and'inverted to directink backinto channel 18 when thrown above the top edge of the core. The cap 22 has a large central aperture 25 through which ink from reservoirl is directed into channel 18.

Surrounding core 10 is a hollow Vcylindrical felt pad 26 supported on an annular shoulder 2 at the lower end of the core and adapted to itsnugly thereon. .The outer periphery of the core is provided with a num- 'ber of longitudinalvertical grooves 28 varying` inlength and each communicating with-` channel 18 through apertures 294 formed in` the flange-like upper end rof thel core. These apertures. are preferably inclined outwardly anddownwardly towardthe grooves 28. 2 lhe arrangement described provides for uniform distrib-utionof ink throughout the pad in the following manner; Ink is dis-s charged in regulatedv .quantities from reser: f

voirlo through pipe 17 into channelflS and, assuming that thevinkeris in Contact with'a moving die and rotating at a relatively high ratepof speed, the ink rises along the inclined: sides of the channel from which` `it flows through apertures 29V into. the longitudinal-` groove 28. Any ink that Hows past the apertures 29 is directed back to channel 18 by the f invertedU-shaped groove 24 in'cap 22. Since` the grooves 28 vary inleiigth, it is obvious that the ink yflowing -in the shorter groovesv is absorbed by the upper portion ofthepad 26,V whereas that directed along the long groove'smis conducted to thebottom ofthe pad, which -is thus supplied with ink.V The construction l and arrangement of parts fatthe upper end of the inker protects the spindle" from ink which ify permitted to .become` gummy or'hard would affect lubrication `of the spindle and retard rotation oftheinker.

It is Obvious that'the opening iii'the cap 22 vis free from spider arms so that the flow of ink from pipe 17 is not obstructed and there is no danger of splashing therefrom. The ink isfurther confined against splashing by the grooved cap which returns ink that has risen above the top of the core during rotation.

While a preferred form of the invention has been described in detail and reference made to its application to cancelling machines, it is apparent that its use and construction is not so limited. Such modifications as lie within the scope of the invention are, therefore, contemplated.

What is claimed is l. A rotatable inker comprising a vertical cylindrical core having an annularchannel in the upper face thereof, the outer peripheral surface of said core having a plurality of longitudinal grooves thereon communicating with said channel; means for feeding ink to said channel; and an absorbent pad surrounding said core.

2. A rotatable inker comprising a vertical cylindrical core having an annular channel in the upper face thereof, the sides of said channel being inclined upwardly and outwardly, the outer peripheral surfaces of said core having a plurality of longitudinal grooves thereon, there being apertures adjacent the upper portion of said inclined sides to provide communication between the cha-nnel and said longitudinal grooves; means for feeding ink to said channel; and an absorbent pad surrounding said core.

3. An inker comprising a vertical cylindrical core having an annular channel in the upper face thereof, the outer peripheral surface of said core having a plurality of longitudinal grooves thereon communicating with said channel; a spindle on which said core is rotatably mounted; and axial boss at the upper end of said core extending above said channel, said spindle passing through said boss; means for feeding ink to said channel; and an absorbent pad surrounding said core.

4. A rotatable inker comprising a vertical cylindrical core having an annular channel in the upper face thereof, the outer peripheral surface of said core having a plurality of longitudinal grooves thereon communicating with the upper portion of said channel, said grooves varying in length; means for feeding ink to said channel; and an absorbent pad surrounding said core.

5. A rotatable inker comprising a vertical cylindrical core having an annular channel in the upper face thereof, the sides of said channel being inclined upwardly and outwardly, the outer peripheral surface of said core having a plurality of longitudinal grooves thereon communicating with the upper portion of said channel; means for feeding ink to said channel; means cooperating with the upper end of said core for rename to this specification.

JOSEF V. PACHER. 

